The New International Version (NIV)

More than 60 years after the vision was cast — and more than 600 million copies later — the New International Version (NIV) is the most widely read Bible translation in contemporary English. That's because the NIV delivers the very best combination of accuracy and readability. It's true to God's Word and true to the reader.

There are plenty of things to wrestle with in the Bible. Your translation shouldn't be one of them.

THE NIV IS ACCURATE

The NIV translators are united by their conviction that the Bible is God's inspired Word. That, along with their years of studying biblical languages, helps them to capture subtle nuances and the depth of meaning in the Bible.

THE NIV IS CLEAR

If the first recipients understood God's Word when they heard it, so should you. That's the driving force behind the NIV's commitment to clarity. The Bible should be every bit as clear to you as it was to its original audience.

THE NIV IS BEAUTIFUL

Bible reading isn't just a solo exercise; it's meant to be a shared experience. That's why the NIV translators prioritize literary beauty, resulting in a Bible translation that's suitable for public reading and use in churches.

THE NIV IS TRUSTWORTHY

The NIV is translated by an independent, self-governing team of Bible scholars. No publisher, commercial or otherwise (not even us!), can tell them how to translate God's Word. The translators come from dozens of denominations and churches, and they can only make changes to the text if 70% of the committee agrees — safeguarding against theological bias.

One of today's best-selling study Bibles, the NIV Life Application Study Bible sheds light on the stories and teachings of scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Learn from the stories of major Bible characters by exploring their strengths, weaknesses, accomplishments, and mistakes. Hear and respond to the truths of Scripture through overviews, outlines, and time lines at the beginning of each book, and grasp difficult concepts using in-text maps, charts, and diagrams. With all these study tools and more, the NIV Life Application Study Bible is a powerful resource that translates Biblical truths into practical living.

Features

Over 10,000 application notes

Over 100 character sketches

Book introductions

In-text maps

In-text charts and diagrams

Dictionary

Concordance

Side-column reference system

Subject index to notes, charts, maps, and profiles

Harmony of the gospels

16 pages of full-color maps

Single-column format

Silver page edges

Ribbon marker

8-page presentation section

NIV in Comparison to Other Translations

Verse

NIV

KJV

NKJV

ESV

YLT

Gen. 4:1

Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the Lord, I have brought forth a man."

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the Lord."

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord."

And the man knew Eve his wife, and she conceiveth and beareth Cain, and saith, "I have gotten a man by Jehovah."

1 Pet. 1:1-2

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the choice sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to a foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God did so love the world, that His Son — the only begotten — He gave, that everyone who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.

Rom. 10:9

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

[T]hat if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

[B]ecause, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

That if thou mayest confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and mayest believe in thy heart that God did raise him out of the dead, thou shalt be saved.

2 Pet. 1:20-21

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

This first knowing, that no prophecy of the Writing doth come of private exposition, for not by will of man did ever prophecy come, but by the Holy Spirit borne on holy men of God spake.

Endorsements

"I wanted to personally thank you for your work translating the Bible. I've used the NIV for my personal devotion in God's word since it came out years ago. It's also the primary translation I use in preaching. There are so many heroes in the faith that often go unnoticed to the general public. Even though many people may not know your name, your work is impacting their lives on earth and eternity in heaven. I'm one of the many blessed by your work. Thank you for using your gifts to bring God's word to life in today's generation."

Craig Groeschel (Pastor of LifeChurch)

"The NIV communicates the message of the original authors of Scripture better than any translation I'm aware of. This is THE translation for our generation."

Andy Stanley (Founder, North Point Ministries)

"The NIV has been my go-to Bible in the pulpit ever since it came out. I still use the '78 version that my father gave me. It reads aloud easily and can be clearly understood by any audience. It also puts familiar passages in a fresh light. I feel at home in its pages. I celebrate the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the NIV."

The CBT was formed in 1965 to create a modern English Bible translation from the oldest and most reliable biblical manuscripts available. Since then, the committee has continued to meet each year to monitor developments in biblical scholarship and English usage and to reflect these developments in periodic updates to the text. The committee represents the very best in evangelical biblical scholarship. The members – a self-perpetuating, independent body of 15 – are drawn from various denominations and some of the finest academic institutions in the world.

The chief goal of every update to the NIV is to ensure that the text reflects the latest and best biblical scholarship and established shifts in English idiom and usage. The 2011 NIV update represents our latest effort as a committee to articulate God's unchanging Word in the way the original authors might have said it if they had been speaking in English to the global English-speaking audience today. This is the reading experience that the NIV seeks to recreate. Our aim is to translate the NIV in such a way as to provide the optimum combination of transparency to the original documents and ease of understanding in every verse.

Members of the committee work individually – each in their own particular areas of specialty – as well as in small groups and as a full committee. In addition to considering proposals from within the committee, we also solicit and receive input from Bible scholars, ministers, missionaries and lay-people. Every proposal is evaluated with many leading to revisions to the text, while others are tabled for discussion at future meetings for potential inclusion in later updates. And changes are not made easily. At least 70 percent of the committee members present at the time of the voting are required to agree before the text can be altered. This ensures that no individual, indeed not even a large group of individuals, can hold sway in the committee.

The translators of the NIV have used the Old Testament and New Testament texts that are widely accepted among modern scholars as giving us the best possible access to what God inspired in the original documents.

For the Old Testament the standard Hebrew text, the Masoretic Text, as published in the latest edition of Biblia Hebraica, has been used throughout. The NIV translators have sometimes used variants of the Hebrew Masoretic tradition or other ancient versions, where these seemed to provide a superior text than the Masoretic tradition. These are all noted in footnotes.

The translators have used the accepted Greek New Testament text, as printed in the Nestle-Aland and United Bible Societies' Greek New Testaments. Here also the translators have occasionally accepted a variant printed in these editions. Footnotes usually indicate the options in each case.

The translators have used the accepted Greek New Testament text, as printed in the Nestle-Aland and United Bible Societies' Greek New Testaments. Here also the translators have occasionally accepted a variant printed in these editions. Footnotes usually indicate the options in each case.

All the changes in the updated text are attributable to at least one of the following factors: changes in English, progress in scholarship and concern for clarity. About 95% of the text of the updated NIV remains exactly the same as the 1984 text it replaces, based on the number of word changes.

The original NIV charter requires us to constantly monitor developments in biblical scholarship and changes in English usage and to reflect these changes in periodic updates to the text. Without these periodic updates the NIV would be unable to maintain the priorities that have drawn people to it over the years: providing the optimum blend of transparency to the original text and ease of understanding for a broad audience. In the latest update in 2011, about 95% of the text remains exactly the same as the 1984 NIV that it replaces, based on the number of word changes.